Coaching and strategy director Alan Richardson told portadelaidefc.com.au the naming of an experienced side will give the Power its best opportunity to bed its game plan down against one of this year’s flag fancies.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Richardson.

“They (West Coast) had a fantastic season last year and are going to field a really strong team so it’s a really good opportunity to really road test our players and our game plan against a quality opposition.”

He says despite forecast temperatures of 38 degrees during the day in Alice Springs, Port will look to play as close as possible to the style it wants to show in the opening round of the season.

“It will certainly be about playing the sort of footy we want to play in round one – but with a bit of common sense.”

“We want to keep our players in good nick for the following weeks.”

portadelaidefc.com.au will have live coverage of the Power v Eagles match on site from 8pm (SA Time) on Saturday 9 March.